The United States and Europe have expressed profound concern regarding another outbreak of violence in South Kivu, in eastern DR Congo, following the new offensive of the March 23 Movement (M23), supported by Rwanda.
The International Contact Group for the Great Lakes (ICG), in a statement issued on Tuesday, warned that the alarming escalation in South Kivu, close to Burundi, “risks destabilizing the whole region”.
The ICG comprises the Governments of the United States of America, Belgium, Denmark, France, Germany (the Chair), Sweden, Switzerland, the European Union, the Netherlands, and the United Kingdom.
The alliance noted the increased use of both attack and suicide drones in the conflict, saying that it “represents a significant escalation in the fighting and poses an acute risk to civilian populations”.
Urging the M23 and the Rwanda Defence Force (RDF) to instantly halt offensive operations in South Kivu, the ICG calls on the RDF to withdraw from eastern DRC and on the M23 to abide by the Declaration of Principles signed in Doha in July 2025.
The U.S. and European allies remind parties to protect civilians, adhere to UNSC resolution 2773, including respect of territorial integrity, to uphold their commitments under the Washington Accords of 4 December 2025 and immediately deescalate the situation.
The ICG further caution against escalatory or provocative speech and actions that endanger civilians and “irreparably undermine” the significant progress achieved with the Framework Agreement the Government of the DRC and M23 signed in Doha in November.
M23 fighters, supported by the Rwandan army, continued their advancement into the South Kivu region over the past days. The rebels have taken over the town of Luvungi and several adjoining villages.
Thousands of people have been fled their homes amid fighting, while the Congolese Armed Forces reportedly withdrew from Luvungi to avoid an escalation. The town is near the border with Burundi.
In a statement, the DRC army informed that multiple projectiles shot from inside Rwanda struck communities in the Ruzizi area, killing civilians and destroying homes, schools, and health centers.
President Felix Tshisekedi has accused Rwanda of breaching the U.S.-brokered peace deal signed in Washington. “Despite our good faith and the recently ratified agreement, Rwanda is already violating its commitments,” he told lawmakers on Monday.
US, Europe alarmed as Rwanda’s M23 invade Congo’s South Kivu
